Costas Tsoclis Museum opens on Tinos
Contemporary art is making its presence felt on a Greek island that boasts a longstanding cultural tradition this summer. The Costas Tsoclis Museum, recently inaugurated in Kambos on Tinos, is housed in the village?s former elementary school, next to the artist?s home.
A minimalist construction, the building blends in with the Cycladic island landscape and is the result of an extension project designed by architect Manos Perrakis.
In the museum?s outdoor space, sunlight glints off the artist?s large-scale ?St George? installation, which has already become the emblem of the new institution. According to Evrydiki Trichon Milsani, the museum?s artistic adviser, the installation is a symbol of the battle between modernism and obscurantism. Also on display indoors is the artist?s ?Prometheus Imprudent,? an installation that evokes entirely different emotions in visitors who are invited to reflect on whether the mythical hero?s gift of fire to mortals was a blessing or a curse.
The aforementioned projects are just two of the 45 works which the artist has donated to the Municipality of Tinos. The donation contributed to the realization of Mayor Panayiotis Krontiras?s vision of a museum network utilizing the premises of Tinos schools which have been forced to close down due to demographic changes. While a number of works are already on display at the museum, others will be showcased in future exhibitions, possibly alongside works by fellow contemporary artists.
Though the new museum will be open to visitors during the summer months only, it aims to operate as a living space for culture and creativity for locals and visitors alike during this time. In view of this, the new institution will be organizing a multitude of parallel activities, including lectures and educational workshops for children and adults, along with theater performances which will take place at the recently established theater in the village of Koumaros.
